Eminem Hosting Battle Rap Event In New York City

Earlier this year, Eminem and Slaughterhouse announced Road To Total Slaughter, a four-part reality series that would coincide with the formation of Total Slaughter, a competitive rap battle league that would give battle rapping a national presence. For months, we heard little-to-nothing about the league or the show but yesterday, Shady’s camp announced that Mr. Mathers and Slaughterhouse will host the inaugural Total Slaughter rap battle event at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom on July 12.

“What we look at this opportunity as, is a way to do for battle rapping what UFC did for MMA,” Em’s manager Paul Rosenberg told Rolling Stone. “That’s really the model we’re basing it on. It’s this great thing that a lot of people love, but it’s very splintered, and it’s very niche, and it’s not really brought into the right production levels that it can or should be.”

The four-part reality series, Road To Slaughter, will determine the under card of the event and will air on WatchLOUD.com in June. The show will feature eight contestants and all four members of Slaughterhouse.

The show at Hammerstein Ballroom will also feature a rematch between battle-rap heavyweights Loaded Lux and Murda Mook and a face-off between Slaughterhouse’s Joe Budden and Hollow Da Don. Fans hoping to catch Eminem taking it back to his roots and battle rapping will be let down as his manager, Paul Rosenberg, has already said Slim Shady will not be partaking. “I don’t think at this point it would make any sense. They know eeeeverything about him. Everything,” says Rosenberg. “So, he’s kind of an easy target. Plus, let’s be honest, you gotta be in shape for this. This isn’t something that you just go do on a whim. You gotta be in shape, your brain’s gotta be ready for it, you gotta be in that mode. And Marshall hasn’t done stuff like that for a really long time.”

“I’m a passionate battle fan, so this is something I’ve always thought about doing,” adds Eminem. “I came up battling at the same time I was making records and learning my way around the studio. It’s a little bit different in terms of the kinds of tools you need, but the competitiveness is the same. The times I didn’t win gave me just as much light in the past as when I did. It’s all about your performance.”

Total Slaughter tickets go on limited pre-sale on May 2nd and will be onsale to the public on May 16th.